Charles H. Morgan (politician)

Charles Henry Morgan (July 5, 1842 – January 4, 1912) was an American lawyer and politician from Missouri. He represented Missouri in the United States House of Representatives for five terms spread across four decades. He also served as a United States Army officer in the American Civil War and the Spanish–American War.

Charles Henry Morgan
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri
In office March 4, 1909 – March 3, 1911
Preceded by	Thomas Hackney
Succeeded by	James A. Daugherty
Constituency	15th district
In office March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1895
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Charles G. Burton
Constituency	15th district
In office March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1885
Preceded by	William H. Hatch
Succeeded by	William J. Stone
Constituency	12th district
In office March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1879
Preceded by	Harrison E. Havens
Succeeded by	James R. Waddill
Constituency	6th district
Personal details
Born	(1842-07-05)July 5, 1842 Cuba, New York, U.S.
Died	January 4, 1912(1912-01-04) (aged 69) Joplin, Missouri, U.S.
Resting place	Mount Hope Cemetery
Political party	Republican Democratic (before 1896)
Spouse	Clara Washburn ​ (m. 1877⁠–⁠1912)​
Children	1
Relatives	Frederic A. Morgan (brother)
Alma mater	Albany Law School
Profession	politician lawyer
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Volunteers Union Army
Years of service	1861–1865 1898
Rank	Lt. Colonel, USV
Unit	1st Reg. Wis. Vol. Infantry 21st Reg. Wis. Vol. Infantry 5th Reg. Mo. Vol. Infantry
Battles/wars	American Civil War Spanish–American War

Early life and education

Charles Henry Morgan was born in Cuba, New York,^[1] on July 5, 1842.^[2][3] His family moved to Pewaukee, Wisconsin, in 1845.^[1] He attended Fond du Lac High School in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, in 1861.^[2][1]

After the Civil War, he went to Albany, New York, and graduated from Albany Law School in 1865.^[2][1]

Career

Military career

At the outbreak of the American Civil War, Morgan was one of the first volunteers from Wisconsin to enlist in the Union Army. He was enrolled as a private in Company I of the 1st Wisconsin Infantry Regiment^[4] and went with the regiment to Virginia in June 1861. At the time, the regiment was only established as a three-month enlistment, and the regiment only participated in the Battle of Hoke's Run in present day West Virginia before the expiration in August 1861.^[5]

Morgan decided to re-enlist for a three year term, and at the re-organization of the 1st Wisconsin Infantry, he was assigned to Company K and promoted to sergeant. At the reorganization, he was joined by his brother Benjamin and his cousin William.^[6] In the Spring of 1862, Morgan was promoted to sergeant major of the regiment.^[6] Through this year of service, the 1st Wisconsin Infantry was mostly serving provost duty in Kentucky and Tennessee.^[5]

Morgan was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Fall of 1862 and assigned to Company F of the 21st Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. The 21st Wisconsin Infantry saw extensive combat in the Tennessee and Kentucky theater of the war. Morgan was taken prisoner twice during the war, first after the Battle of Perryville, when he was quickly paroled, and then after the disastrous Battle of Chickamauga, when he was sent to Libby Prison, along with about 70 others of his regiment. He famously escaped from Libby Prison with Harrison Carroll Hobart and about 100 others in February 1864. After returning to his regiment, he was promoted to captain of Company H in April 1865.^[7] At the end of the war, he marched in the Grand Review of the Armies.^[8]

During the Spanish–American War he returned to service as lieutenant colonel of the Fifth Missouri Infantry Regiment.^[2]

Law career

He began practicing law in Lamar, Missouri. In 1868 he was prosecuting attorney of Barton County, Missouri; member of the Missouri House of Representatives in 1872–74.^[1] He practiced until 1884, and then he went into coal and zinc mining.^[2]

Political career

He served as a Democratic congressman in 1875–79, 1883–85 (during which he was chairman, Committee on Expenditures in the Post Office Department) and 1893–95. He was elected as a Republican in 1908 and served 1909–1911.^[1]

In 1907 he moved to Joplin, Missouri.^[1]

Personal life

Charles Morgan was the eldest son among 11 children born to Henry Culver Morgan and his wife Lurancy (née Swift). Henry C. Morgan came to Black Wolf, Wisconsin, with his brother, Charles, and had a successful lumber mill operating until the Panic of 1857. Charles Morgan served several years on the Winnebago County board and was twice an unsuccessful candidate for state legislature.^[9]

Henry's younger brother Frederic A. Morgan served in the 39th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment and later represented Winnebago County in the Wisconsin State Assembly.

Charles H. Morgan married Clara Washburn, daughter of Judge Ganem W. Washburn of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, on March 14, 1877.^[10] He had a son, Frank B. Morgan.^[3]

Death

Morgan died of pneumonia on January 4, 1912, in Joplin, Missouri.^[1][2][3] He is interred in Mount Hope Cemetery.^[1]